← Meetings with Sages and Saints

(“ Ramana Charana Tirtha ”)

NOCHUR VENKATARAMAN

(“ Ramana Charana Tirtha ”)

Life

Venkataraman was born in Nochur at Kerala, a very traditional village of profound Vedic culture. His father’s name was Sundaram Iyer and mother’s was Lakshmi Ammal. In his childhood, he had the good fortune of seeing Bhagavan Ramana’s powerful photo seated in the sukhasana posture in one of his relatives’ house. After that he started seeing Sri Bhagavan in his dreams.

At a very young age of nine he lost two paternal uncles and his father in quick succession. Seeing those deaths had a deep impact on the boy’s mind about the impermanent nature of worldly life. During the rituals of cremation ceremony of his father he overheard two elderly women conversing about death. One lady was asking the other about what happened after one’s death and where do the dead people go. The elder of the two replied “They cease to exist”. These words had a shocking effect on the boy who was standing next to them. He tried to imagine the state of ‘non-existence’ of oneself. This generated tremendous fear in his heart. His heart was not accepting ‘nothingness’. From his heart he had an intuitional response : “How can existence become non-existent? Here I AM; how can I cease to exist? No! ‘AM-ness’ can never become non-existent”. Though this seemed to be a passing incident, later it had very deep impact on his Vedanta manana (spiritual practices). When he was around fourteen years old, he happened to come across the Bhagavad Gita which his father used to read every day and started reading it with full devotion. He felt he already knew the Gita. There was a very deep fulfillment and peace in that reading. This meditative daily reading of the Gita continued for many years. It had a tremendous impact on his life. It revealed to him the message that there is a state of ‘deathlessness’, Bliss, within – the Atman – ‘SELF’ – ‘I AM’.

Right from that age he was leading a life of intense contemplation and started frequenting lonely places, the temple of the Divine Mother, Shanthi Durga or the jungle surrounding, the Sankara pond and spent most of his time meditating and contemplating on the Upanishads and the Gita, yet not leaving that silent village. Life and teachings of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Swami Vivekananda had a very deep impact on his life during that period. Often he disappeared from his home. Many times his relatives traced him to Ramakrishna Ashram at Trissur and forcefully took him home. He spent much of his time in the company of monks at the Ramakrishna Ashram. They loved him as one among them. He came to know the various facets of spiritual life from them. He read all the Ramakrishna literature. He also had intimate contacts with many evolved sadhus of that order. This gave him the perfect background for his character-building. Such isolation and not leading a normal life of a youth, evoked serious doubts in others about the mental stability of the young boy.

One day at home, he was sitting on a chair with a book in one hand, and a cup of milk in the other. Suddenly he tumbled down from the chair. His mother and family members rushed to see what happened to him. They were distraught to find no sign of life in his body. Mother took the head of her son, placing it on her lap and started weeping. People gathered around the body. After the passage of a few minutes of worry and anxiety, suddenly, life appeared to come back to the body; and, he woke up as if waking up from sleep! That, however caused a deep fear in the mother’s heart. Despite her repeated requests, he could not recollect or tell what had happened, except affirming that it was perhaps a remarkable ‘Spiritual experience’!

It was at that time, a great tapasvi – ( an embodiment of austerity) came to Nochur from Calcutta. Although elder to Venkataraman by forty years, he became his full-time companion. This Swami became the instrument of the Lord through whom Venkataraman was being protected, moulded and made to perform the various forms of spiritual practices in his youth. Those practices made the body a fit instrument to absorb the deep spiritual experiences, later on. This Saint helped the too innocent a boy to adjust himself to outer life, making him lead a balanced normal life in the family later on, without necessitating him to take to the path of external sannyasa.

Let us listen to his own words on the greatest turning point in his life :

“I used to spend half the day in the temple of Shanthi Durga. Hours used to melt into the joy of ‘inner silence’ and ‘inner peace’. Those were the rainy days of ‘Bhakti’ and the spring of ‘Jnana’. Sometimes in those days when I was meditating very early in the morning, about 3 am – sitting in front of the fire, chanting ‘Siva Panchakshara’ into which I was initiated by the Lord in a dream - I always felt the presence of ‘fire’ as a great help for invoking the Inner Fire of the Self. At that time, suddenly a veil was lifted from the brain and there was a clear perception of a state similar to ‘deep sleep in the waking state’, true depth of Deep Sleep! It cannot be put into better words.

Nochur ‘Ramana’

“Actually I saw or I merged in the absolute release of deep sleep like state while wide awake in that pre-dawn hour. Sushupti (Deep Sleep) revealed itself not as a dull state but as the substratum where the Self shines forth bodiless, mindless, egoless…as the profound peace of Samadhi. When I came out of that Samadhi state, there was a clear insight of the individuality, the ‘I’, emerging from the abysmal depth of my being which was stillness and peace. It was as if I was seeing my own birth from my own womb. The inner Witness, Awareness, was watching the ‘I’ - emerging and becoming the personality. The very next day, the stream of Grace entered, i.e., I got Bhagavan Sri Ramana’s biography and ‘Who am I’ in Malayalam. Those two books confirmed and verbalised the route taken by the Inner force on the day before. Thus, only after giving the clear glimpse of the “Ramana Way”, Sri Bhagavan appeared to me as Satguru. ‘The fruit comes first and then the flowers’, says Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.

“Although I had this ‘Inner Experience’, I was yet to come under the shade of Sri Bhagavan’s Motherly Love and Compassion, in his solid presence at Sri Ramanasramam. There was still a deep urge for a very strong anchorage. I was just in my teens, finding a job or earning money was farthest from my mind. It is true that the magnetic Power of Sri Bhagavan’s Grace was operating as the undercurrent. One of my co-spiritual-seeker friends who was like an elder brother to me, came to my house and firmly said ‚ ‘Come with me to Arunachala’. ‘I do not have any money with me’, was my reply. ‘Who asked you for money? I am taking you with me’ he said. He almost lifted me and put me on his motorcycle and drove towards the Bus Station. After 12 hours of tedious bus journey we reached Tiruvannamalai. By that time I was almost exhausted. ‘Why are we here with so much effort?’ was my inner question. We were not even aware that, that day was the most sacred Maha Sivaratri evening! Somewhere near Pali Tirtham, near the Ashram, we got down from the bus. Arunachala, unlike now, was not green but the majesty that unveiled before the eyes ! The irresistible pull of something very deep was undeniable.

“We entered the Ashram which was not at all crowded even on that sacred day. As we had not informed the Ashram about our arrival, rooms were not available. Since we were coming from Palakkad, a devotee took us directly to Kunju Swami. We prostrated to that very elderly Sadhu who looked like a delightful child! Swami graciously enquired about us and narrated some incidents in Sri Bhagavan’s life. After that, Swami asked a person in the office to accommodate us. So we were allotted the thatched shed in front of Sri Bhagavan’s Samadhi. We kept our bags there and went to Sri Bhagavan’s sannidhi. The parayana was going on. It was the sacred twilight hour of Maha Sivaratri. I entered Sri Bhagavan’s Samadhi Hall and stood gazing at the Sannidhi, leaning on the left side wall. Some deep ‘innering’ process was activated, inwardly. A kind of ‘swallowing’ was taking place. The body started shaking and I almost swooned! Meanwhile my friend who was standing behind me held me in his hands and took me to the nearby room. The mouth was repeating some formerly initiated mantra. But inwardly the current of ‘I’ ‘I’ was very clearly active. A deep process of inner merging was taking place. The mind was only a stream of energy. It was not made of ‘thoughts’. It was like a fast running rivulet disappearing into a bottomless source !

Sri Bhagavan’s Samadhi Shrine

“At night a devotee took us for Giripradakshina. He himself assisted us to visit Skandasramam and Virupaksha cave. But, all these movements were only on the surface. Deep within me, Arunachala Ramana was reigning Supreme. After that there was no more search for an external Guru or God. Many asked me whether I had seen Sri Bhagavan. My response was “Yes, I have seen Him more intimately than anything that could be perceived with my senses.” Actually it is He who saw me and swallowed me, not I ! Only He exists!

“During these twenty five years after that visit, many elderly devotees of Sri Bhagavan like Kanakamma and Ganesanna had poured their love and compassion on me. Truly, some of the elders took care of me like their own child. Only through them the sweetness of Sri Bhagavan’s magnanimity and His divine presence became a Reality to me. In them I found that Guru Bhakti which transcends even the urge for Self-Realisation. Madhusudhana Saraswati says‚ ‘Bhakti after Jnana is hundred times sweeter! ’ ”

The Inner Experience, he was blessed with by Arunachala Ramana, began like a spark which later on became a steady ‘Flame of Wisdom’, through constant contemplation and meditation, all through the years. For three and a half years he was immersed in studies and tapas at Kaladi, the birth place of Adi Sankaracharya. During that facet of his life on the banks of River Poorna, all the fundamental scriptures of Vedanta, like Prasthana-traya Bhashyas and Bhagavan Ramana’s “Collected Works” were studied and well assimilated by him with the ‘insight born of Atmanubhuti’. Many verses in Sanskrit poured forth. Later all his Sanskrit works were published as ‘Anandamakarandam’. Although at Kaladi he was living alone and aloof from the society, a few rare matured souls recognised the spiritual treasure hidden within the blossoming young boy.

In 1993, during Ramana Jayanthi, Venkataraman went to Palakkad ‘Vijnana Ramaneeyam Ashram’ to attend a satsang there. But, as destiny would have it, the speaker of the day did not turn up and Venkataraman was made to speak. The devotees there were thrilled to listen and see a young boy speak for the first time in his life. A renowned professor of Sanskrit after listening, said “Today we witnessed the coming of a new Acharya”. That was the first talk and the subject was ‘Atma Vichara and Bhagavan Ramana’. It was like a downpour of Bhakti and Jnana. Those who had listened to that first talk of his, twenty three years ago, continue listening to him with the same thrill ! One of them affirmed that the first talk was the same as it is now. No change or gradation other than in the age of the body!

Kanakamma, a direct devotee of Sri Bhagavan, learnt Sri Bhagavan’s ‘works’ directly from the great saint-poet Muruganar. We know that she was instrumental in giving us the treasure that we have today ‘The Complete Works of Bhagavan with Commentary’. She used to visit Chennai from Tiruvannamalai for her health checkup. During one such trip, she came to ‘Narada Gana Sabha’ for Venkataraman’s talks on ‘Ulladu Naarpadu’. Let us hear the words from Seshadri of Palakkad -- a devotee of Sri Bhagavan -- who was a witness to an incident that happened between Kanakamma and Venkataraman : “Every day, I was in charge of bringing her to the hall by car. After hearing it for all the seven days, she said to Venkataraman ‘Bhagavan speaks through you’. She asked him to come to her place in Tiruvannamalai (behind ‘Manakkula Vinayagar’ Temple). She made him sit in the same place where Muruganar sat and taught her Sri Bhagavan’s “Collected Works” and asked him to speak on ‘Ulladu Naarpadu Anubandham’ for three days. Upon completion, she said, ‘Bhagavan made me, a person who does not know Tamil, to write the commentary in Tamil on his ‘Collected Works’. Now, Bhagavan has made you, a person who has not learnt Tamil, to speak about his ‘Works’ in Tamil ! Venkataraman replied, with deep reverence, “Amma, It is from you we got to understand the ‘Works’ of Sri Bhagavan.” Kanakamma said instantly, “ But you are the real wonder-(adhisayam)- of Sri Bhagavan! ” I who was standing behind them said to him ‘Anna! This is Sri Bhagavan’s stamp on you, the greatest recognition !’ Two months later, that Kanakamma dropped her body right in front of Sri Bhagavan’s sannidhi on the sacred day of Sri Bhagavan’s Jayanthi. So, this event turned out to be the last meeting between the two.”

Now, Nochur Venkataraman is a well recognised Acharya of Vedanta. His talks on ‘Srimad Bhagavatam’ are a spiritual feast to the yearning devotees. He has composed many texts on Jnana and Bhakti, in Sanskrit, Malayalam, Tamil and English. His book on Adi Sankara’s life and teachings – ‘Atmatirtham’ – has already become a spiritual classic. His commentary on ‘Ulladu Naarpadu’ known as ‘Swatmasukhi’ in Tamil, English and Malayalam and Bhagavan Ramana’s life in Malayalam have been published by Sri Ramanasramam. Great traditional Acharyas consider his renditions as most lucid, simple and yet true to the ancient lore of Upanishadic Wisdom and scholars consider his commentaries on various Vedantic works profound, filled with deep insights, wisdom backed by experience and authenticity. His talks in Tamil, Malayalam and English are recorded and are inspiring innumerable devotees all the world over. Many have had profound spiritual transformation, just by listening to him once.

May Sri Bhagavan continue to shower His Grace and Blessings on ‘Nochur’ Venkataraman and every member of his family !

THE GREAT TEACHER

The great Teacher who was none other than God Who walked the earth declared to me “You are Brahman”. Then and there I ceased to exist as a person. He, the impersonal being, blazes forth as ‘I’-‘I’. An awakening into the timeless, an awakening into the Infinity An awakening which is but a rediscovery of the Primordial teaching in the depth of one’s Awareness. This vision of the Master filled the heart with gratefulness. Tears rolled on and on expressing the inner fulfillment. What else can be given in return to the Omnipotent Being Who is solidified Nectarine Ocean of Compassion !

- ‘Ramana Charana Tirtha’

Nochur ‘Ramana’

Nochur ‘Ramana’ celebrating Ganesan’s completion of 80^th birthday ritualistically; and, pouring holy water on him at Kolwan, near Pune, on Nov.6, 2016 (Anuradha’s son Dr.Sankar took very active part)

“RAMANA AND ME”

The very first time I saw a bright and brilliant youth walking in a state of ‘not himself’, my heart said : “Here comes a rare being who has come to keep Sri Bhagavan’s teaching alive!” From that moment, I addressed him affectionately as Nochur “Ramana”. Later, I came to know that his name is ‘Venkataraman’. People at his home and also at Ashram called him as ‘Anand’. But for me he remains and will ever remain as my dear ‘Ramana’.

When I look back, I become fully aware that the bond created between the two of us is not merely a human relationship, but something over and above and beyond that. In those days he looked much younger than his age and we considered him only like a child. Even in those days I saw the flame in him and remember, at that time he was not an ‘Acharya’ of Vedanta or Srimad Bhagavatam but only a devotee of Bhagavan Ramana coming to me to spend his time in divine inundation! When I spoke very highly of him then, many reprimanded me for spoiling a young boy by flattery. My Inner Voice was my sole guide in this recognition. The future proved the infallibility of that.

Narada Gana Sabha : “The hall was full in the morning to listen to Sri Bhagavan’s ‘WHO AM I ? ’ in the purest form !”

Now after so many years, Friends! Look at ‘Ramana’, has not Sri Bhagavan made my words come true! Many times I have watched and enjoyed how the audience go into ecstasy when they listen to him. Once I went to his talks at ‘Narada Gana Sabha’, Chennai. The evening talk was on Srimad Bhagavatham. The huge hall, was overflowing with enthusiastic spiritual seekers. But I was curious about the morning talk as it was on Sri Bhagavan’s ‘Who am I ?’. Ramana has the traditional method of speaking on Jnana in the morning and on Bhakthi in the evening.

The next morning by sharp seven we were there. The talk started as usual and I was absorbed in the profound presence of the satsang. My attention was solely on my ‘Ramana’ only and I was sitting in the front row next to Prof.Anantharaman who was the organiser of the satsang. When the talk was over it, was like the end of a ‘rain of great Peace’. Anantharaman whispered in my ear “Anna! Please turn back and have a look.” I turned and looked, and lo! A thrill passed through my body. The hall was full in the morning to listen to Sri Bhagavan’s ‘WHO AM I ?’ in the purest form!

Suddenly I remembered what Muruganar told me in an ecstatic state. “Ganesa! The day will come when the whole World will listen to our Bhagavan’s teaching.” I thanked Anantharaman for making me see this divine splendour. After that, I told him “See! Like the rising Sun in the eastern horizon, Nochur ‘Ramana’ has arisen to keep the flame of Sri Bhagavan’s teaching alive”. I gave a true sigh of delight!

Many times I had been with Nochur ‘Ramana’ to his camps on the banks of Ganga at Haridwar. There, I was also made to speak on my association with Saints. Those satsangs were really enthralling to me. The quality of devotees who came to those satsangs inspired me very much to share what I have on Sri Bhagavan’s life and on the life of Old Devotees of Sri Bhagavan.

Whenever Nochur ‘Ramana’s’ devout wife, Hema, who is also like a child to me, or the Scientist, Dr. Viswanathan, who is like a shadow of Nochur ‘Ramana’, or those who are very closely associated with him -- Murali Sambasankaran, Sridhar, Rangaswami Deekshidar, Chandramouli, Vidyashankar come to meet me, I repeatedly tell them only one thing – “Look after ‘Ramana’ well. He is our ‘Treasure’ ” !

(l to r)Vaidhyanatha Deekshidar,Sridhar,Rangaswami Deekshidar, Nochur Ramana, Anuradha, Vidyashankar, Ganesan, Dr.Viswanathan (photo taken in front of the huge ‘Boabab’ tree trunk at Rajapalayam)

“My life of eighty years has been filled with rich spiritual experiences”

TAILPIECE

My life of eighty years has been filled with rich spiritual experiences. Despite episodes of turmoil in my external life, I have been constantly inwardly blessed, helped, advised, guided, and sometimes scolded, by Saints who played roles of fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, teachers, mentors and friends to me. For this, I am eternally grateful to each one of them.

Mataji Krishna Bai moulded my spiritual life -- my ‘journey within’ -- and matured it through the great Siddha Purusha, Yogi Ramsuratkumar! Along the path, several Saints continually moulded and blessed me making my life, thus far, a beautiful experience.

It seems now to me, that at the dusk of my life, the Great Master BHAGAVAN RAMANA has entrusted me to a ‘Glorious Son’ who attends to this ‘tottering’ old parent with dedication, love and devotion!

Despite all those years of service to Sri Ramanasramam - collecting reminiscences of Old Devotees, attending to them, bringing out the old manuscripts as books, publishing the Ashram journal: ‘The Mountain Path’, maintaining the Ashram correspondence, taking care of visiting pilgrims, and collecting funds for expanding the Ashram - I still had a ‘nagging pain’ in my Heart.

I was conscious about my limited ability to give talks on Sri Bhagavan's Direct Teaching of “WHO AM I ?" in a manner that ordinary people could grasp it and apply it into practice in their lives.

Another lingering concern was that our Ashram should actively follow Sri Bhagavan's specific directive: "It should be maintained as a Centre for the diffusion of Spiritual Knowledge"! I am happy to have lived long enough to see my resplendent 'Spiritual Son' Nochur ‘RAMANA’, dispersing this Wisdom to the whole World! Thousands have flocked to Sri Bhagavan’s path directly as a result of his tireless efforts to spread the teaching.

Old Devotees of Sri Bhagavan fondly used to address me and treat me as ‘Kuzhandhai Swami – ‘Child Swami’. The Great Master seems to complete this ‘child's’ life -- with a 'spiritual son'!

‘Life’ is truly, very richly rewarding as its “only purpose is to realise the Self ”!

My ‘Father' is ‘RAMANA’ !

My ‘Mother' is ‘RAMANA’ !

My 'Son' is also ‘RAMANA’ !

“ ‘Father’ and ‘Son’ ”